A/N: I really do want to apologize heavily for the lonnng time period between updates! Well, for me it is long bcuz normally I update really fast. But I have been traveling and such lately and this is really my first chance to sit down and write! I'm hoping to make this kind of a long chapter to make up for the short chapter last time and the time! I'm terrible at scheduling, but I'm trying to work up one for my two stories. Once a week probably. Lately, I am just running out of time. This is the way it will probably work:
Monday- Leaving the Past Behind (LPB)
Friday- Caribbean Cruising (C C)
That's not saying that I won't update more during the week, cuz I possibly may. But, that is just saying that by that day…you should be guaranteed an update…!
Thanks to Lola (again, I can't help it…I just have to keep thanking you.) for recommending this story on Harmony
Podcast! And I am sooo sorry about delaying the update even longer than I originally wrote you!
AND…just one thing more: I actually did branch out a bit in this chapter and explore places the book never went!
Okay, two more things! Does anyone remember the fic where Hermione is riding in a cab with Harry to Harry, Ron and Hermione's flat, (Harry and Hermione are already together) and Hermione has like this urge to get right upstairs to the bedroom. She is waiting on the slow elevator and almost takes the stairs. She mentions in her thoughts the sight it would be for her and Harry having sex on the stairs. She gets a bit frisky in the elevator and when they crash in the flat door, Ron reminds them to, "Si-lenc-ee-oo"! lol. It's been bugging me for a while, and all the fics I read just get clumped together. If any one can help me and tell me the title, or anything about it…like if you read it and you remember a similar event…that would be great! Thanks, love you!
~*~
It was later that afternoon that Lavender and I were walking the decks of our great Enchantment, while scanning them for gorgeous guys.
"What about that one?" I pointed to a blonde, tan, built guy walking by us.
"Oo…a perfect 10…" She raised her eyebrows and winked at him.
"Hey…" He said in a low voice, giving us a wink as he kept walking by.
When he was out of sight, we broke out into a chorus of laughter. "Okay…" I said, regaining composure,
"you have got to tell me what you do to get five out of seven guys to wink at you!"
"Please!" Lavender exclaimed. "It wasn't only me! You know you're right beside me…"
"Oh…well…" I blushed and looked down. "I think all those comments were directed at
you…"
Lavender rolled her eyes. "Highly Doubtful, Hermione." She said pulling me by the wrist. "Guys think you're hott. This I know. Anyways, after all that hard work, time for some pampering! " She laughed dragging me down a few steps until we reached the door to the ship's spa.
I rolled my eyes but let her drag me into the spa. I really didn't want to seem so insecure in front of Lavender of all people, but I couldn't help it. Those guys did pay loads of attention to us, but I was convinced that it was just because of Lavender. Surely, those guys couldn't have seen anything in me?
It was only late Day One on the cruise and I was actually feeling pretty confident about myself. I had already hooked up with a wild and crazy beautiful blonde that would guarantee me some serious fun. The only problem was: Harry.
As I let the masseuse rub my back and shoulders, I tried to figure out the mystery man who was supposed to be watching out for me. Sure, he was pretty hott. Lavender knew him and seemed to like him a lot…but I mean, he was Sirius' god son! He was my guardian, my babysitter…the one exception to my free reign.
"Isn't this just amazing?" Lavender sighed from my right.
"Amazing." I exhaled a deep breath. "I think perhaps they should call this the Four Hands Muscle Melt."
"Mmm…yep! That's perfect."
We let our voices die as the Four Hands Muscle Melt massage kneaded through our body. It was the best massage I had ever had. Okay, so it was my first. Who really cares?
When it was done, I was wondering how I could possibly get off the table when my body felt like fluid. The room had been dimly lit. Enya had echoed softly around me. And two masseurs had worked in tandem to melt every muscle I possessed.
Hence the name.
When they had finally finished and left, it took me several minutes to gather the strength I needed to stand and put on my bathing suit and over it the thick, downy robe the spa provided.
Once I exited the room, I noticed Lavender sitting back with her eyes closed, emerged in a warm pool of water in the center of the room.
"Hey, Lav."
She opened one eye and smiled a calm smile. "Hey! How was it?!"
"Great!" I said, climbing in and sitting beside her. I felt the hot water consume my skin, knowing at it in the most comforting way. I laid my head back and closed my eyes.
"I know. I could stay here forever."
"Tell me about it."
It really was a little too relaxing. All my life, I had been busied and rushed. Always concerned about something, and now…I didn't need to be. I was just…relaxing at the spa with my new friend Lavender Brown.
"Perfect…" She sighed and then smiled, opening both eyes to turn her head to me. "It's all the perfect way to prepare to seduce all those guys tonight!"
Seduce? I wasn't really into seducing…not that I really knew how to do it anyways. I suppose that's where my mindset should be though, if I want my summer fling.
Just then, something glittering in the water caught my eye. "Lav, do you have your navel pierced?!"
She grinned and looked down, fingers toying with the earring hanging from her belly button. "Yep. You should get one, too…guys love it!"
"Really?"
"Oh yeah." She assured me.
"I dunno…it might hurt too much."
"Oh, Hermione! C'mon, live a little!" She laughed.
I thought it over. Well… "I suppose I could get my navel pierced…"
"Cool!" She smiled. "I'm sure we could find some place in Saint Thomas to do it. Maybe you should think about a tattoo, too?"
Hm…maybe. "I dunno. Maybe. What would I get?"
"Think, what would represent you?" I shrugged. "I know!" She exclaimed, "a butterfly!"
A butterfly. A butterfly. That sounded good to me. "That sounds exactly like me." I smiled. This was about a summer of change, and a butterfly was the perfect way to represent it. "Do you have a tattoo?"
She smiled suggestively which told me yes already. She pulled the side of her bathing suit down a little and I grinned at the dragon tattooed nicely on her hip. "It hurts a little, but its totally worth it."
"Maybe." I smiled, closing my eyes and letting the heat and vapor take over once more. Breathing in and out. In and out. In and out…
~*~
Lavender and I had finished up at the spa and reluctantly began to walk to the decks again talking about our plans for that night.
"So…my mom really wants to have dinner with me tonight. You know, parent stuff. Checking up on me to make sure that I'm doing okay." I told her. It was lame, I know. I didn't want to sound lame, but I had to tell her.
"No it's cool. I understand, I'm meeting my parents for dinner tonight, too. We should meet outside the MAX Club at around 9?" She suggested.
"That sounds great."
As we were walking and talking, a familiar face appeared in the crowd of people and he smiled at me. I smiled back. Unconsciously, probably.
"There's Harry!" Lavender exclaimed. Apparently she had noticed to. "Hey, hey Potter!"
He walked towards us. "Lavender Brown…" he grinned and studied her. "What on earth are you doing here?"
He looked at her like she was pretty. Beautiful. Which she was. I knew it was a look he would never give me. He thought of me as a sister, not in any way the same as he thought of Lavender. Suddenly, I felt left out.
"Oh, you know…just hanging around! The parents decided to venture out! I haven't seen Ron or the others yet…"
"Oh you'll see them." He said. "They're going to the club tonight."
"Really?!" Lavender squealed. "Perfect! We are too!"
"Really?" Harry eyes flicked to me and his smile broadened. "Funny…"
"What?" Lavender asked.
"Nothing." He hastily replied. But I knew what he meant. He never thought I would be the one to hang out with her...and go to clubs with her. But he didn't know me. He didn't know me well at all.
"Yeah. We're totally going. Going to be fun." I replied.
"Huh, yeah." He said, raising and eyebrow. He grinned and walked closer to me, finger moving downwards. I noticed he was looking at my extremely short dark blue Soffe shorts on which one side, they had been titled down a little and you could see the tie of my bathing suit bottoms. His fingers weaved through the string and he said, "Better pull those shorts up…one might think you're asking for it." He said cheekily before letting go and walking away.
"Maybe I am asking for it…" I muttered to myself when he walked away.
When he had come that close to me, I had just…stopped. My breath had hitched in my throat when I felt his fingers touch my skin for the briefest moment. And I felt an odd feeling, wishing that they had stayed there longer. But it wasn't right…no, no, no….it just wasn't right.
Lavender squealed beside me. "Oh Merlin, Hermione! He was just totally flirting with you!"
"Was not!" I argued.
"Was too!"
Was he? Yep, it definitely sounded like flirtatious behavior… but why would he flirt with me?! No, it just wasn't on the list…it wasn't in the plan. So it couldn't happen.
"Okay, maybe he was." I relented.
"So…" She urged.
"So…what?"
"So, what are you going to do about it?" She asked impatiently.
"Um…nothing?"
"Hermione!"
"What?!" I asked in an annoyed, sing-song voice to mimic her tone.
"How could you let him get away?!" She asked in amazement. "Wasn't he good?"
Good, well sure, he was good. He didn't try anything on me. (That I know of. Ha. Just Kidding.) He just let me sleep…but I'm pretty sure that's not what Lavender meant.
"Yeah…he was, amazing." I told her.
I just flat out lied. Again. But…I couldn't help it. I had to make her think I was that kind of girl…she wouldn't like me if she knew the old Hermione Granger.
"Well, than what's the problem? You were so cold to him this morning by the pool…and now you're acting…Merlin, I don't even know!" She threw her hands up in the air.
Cold? Was I cold to him this morning? Perhaps I had been a bit rude, especially considering what he did for me last night.
I let out a frustrated breath. "I don't know, Lav. I really don't. I just…don't want to be with him. I don't."
It sounded as if I was trying more to convince myself than Lavender.
"Okay…" Lavender shrugged her shoulders in defeat as we continued walking in silence.
"So… I'll meet you tonight?"
"Sure thing! Nine O'clock!"
"Cool!" I exclaimed, turning around to head back to my cabin.
"And Hermione?"
"Yeah?" I turned around.
She looked at me a minute before shaking her head. "Uh, never mind. See you tonight." She turned around and walked away.
As she walked away, I wondered what she could have been thinking. I shrugged and resumed my walk back. Whatever it was obviously wasn't important. At least, that's what I thought.
~*~
I, dressed in a nice white skirt and nice dark blue sleeveless shirt, walked gracefully down the stairs and appeared in front of a restraint called, `Skyline'. I walked inside and asked the host, an older man wearing a tux, "Hi, I'm looking for my mother and step father…It should be under…Sirius Black?"
The man's eyes brightened and he smiled. "Oh, yes, yes, of course. Right this way, ma'am." He led me back to a table by a large window that had the best view of the ocean.
Great, nothing like getting sea sick while I was eating.
"Hello, darling!" my mom stood to greet me and hugged me.
"Hi mom." I hugged her. "Hi, Sirius."
"Hello, luv, how are you?" He asked, kissing me on the cheek, before we all three sat down again.
"Great. I love the ship, it's beautiful."
"Good." He commented and took a sip from his wine glass. I noticed the class in front of me held water. Of course. I could get away with breaking the drinking rules while my parents weren't around, but now…I had to follow them.
I then noticed a fourth place set at the table and asked, "Who's the fourth place for?"
Sirius smiled, "Oh well, it's for-"
"Sorry I'm late, guys." An oddly familiar voice once again filled her ears.
"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed. "Better late than never."
Of course. Mom came with Sirius…and Sirius came with…Harry.
Everything now seemed so predictable. I bet you I know what he's going to say next.
"Hey, Hermione." He said to me at the same time I mumbled the words, "Hey Hermione" under my own breath. I almost laughed to my self. So maybe that was expected, but I mean come on.
"What was that?" Mom asked me.
"Nothing…" I replied. "Nothing at all. Hey, Harry."
"So," Sirius started. "What have the two of you been up to."
"I've just been hanging around." Harry said. "But Hermione, here, has been getting pretty chummy with good old Lavender Brown."
I kicked him under the table. He started but recovered quickly, smirking.
"Lavender Brown?" Sirius said to himself. "Well, all say…I had no idea she was here! Isn't she the Boy Crazy Gryffindor from Hogwarts, Harry? I know I've heard you mention her."
"Yep, that's her." He replied.
"I've just been hanging out with her, you know. Nothing big. She's like my partner for the trip, we're going shopping tomorrow." I told them all.
"Really, well, that sounds quite interesting. I'm so glad you've found a friend!" Mom exclaimed.
I made a face at Harry, to show him I won, he mimicked my face and I rolled my eyes. Sirius didn't miss a second. He held back his laughter and couldn't get over what an interesting start that friendship was getting off to.
After our somewhat eventful dinner, Sirius reached into his pocket and pulled out two tickets. "I got you guys tickets to the show…" He handed them to Harry.
"What movie?" I asked, peering over Harry's shoulder.
Harry's face turned to me. "No movie, its like an onboard show. A cabaret or something."
"Oh." I said. "When?"
"Tonight." Harry smiled victoriously at me.
Oh. Tonight. I had plans tonight! But I wasn't going to tell Sirius that, he went to all that trouble for us, it just didn't seem right.
"Well, that sounds…great." I managed.
Afterwards, Harry was walking with me back to the cabins and I said, "Why did you tell them who I was hanging with?"
"Just thought your mom should know what you're getting yourself into."
"Well, you didn't succeed; she thinks it's a great idea. And who are you to make assumptions about me anyway? You don't know me."
"I know you well enough to know that you don't normally act like this." He commented when we reached our doors. I stood next to mine.
"Whatever. You don't know me at all…" I grumbled as I fumbled with my key card in the slot.
"Hey." He said as I opened the door. I turned back to him. "I'll exchange the tickets, okay? I know you have plans tonight, we'll get some for tomorrow instead."
I breathed a sigh of defeat. I guess he really wasn't all that bad. I smiled. "Okay…See you."
"Bye." He said, walking the way as I closed the door.
On the other side, I leaned against the door and played with the string on my skirt. What in the world was I getting myself into?
~*~
A/N: I Know this chapter probably wasn't that long, but I was going to pass out if I wrote any more. You know what sucks? Sanjaya is going to win American Idol…and he sucks! But he's going to win. Because of votefortheworst.com, b/c of all those people who think it's funny. I can't bleev Haley just got out tonight! I kinda liked her! Anyways, hope you liked this chapter. I was laughing so hard when I wrote the `soffe' short scene on the deck, cuz my best friend Tristin did that to me once and it just brought me back to my cruise last summer.
Next Chapter:
*Surprise Guests
*Clubs
*Margaritas
*Dancing
*Cute, or not so cute, guys!
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